Just a Friendly Reminder Regarding the Gate

Hi Parents and Guardians,

I've mentioned this before I went on my leave, by wanted to send you a friendly reminder.  When picking up your child early or volunteering in the classroom, I just wanted to remind you that the gates are locked.  I kindly ask that you do not knock on our classroom window.  The loud banging sound can be frightening to the children and is also a distraction during class time or quiet time.

• If you are picking up your child early, you will need to check them out from the office and fill out a slip.  Remind the office staff that you will be picking up in TK so that they can call us in the classroom to open the gate for you.  
• If you are volunteering in the classroom, you will need to sign in the office and grab a volunteer sticker.  While signing in, inform the office staff that you are on your way to volunteer in the classroom.  Kindly remind them to call our classroom so that we can open the gate.
• If you are picking up your child during daycare between the hours of 11:45 and 2:20, the gates will be locked.  You do not need to sign your child out from the office, however, the classroom needs to be called to unlock the gate.  In some instances, Mrs. Gigi is the only one in the classroom during daycare.  By letting the office know that you are picking up, she can inform them that she needs a staff member to help unlock the gate for her.

All of this is for the safety of your child.  Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Paragas

Week 28

Dear TK Family and Friends,

This week in TK we are learning the following:

• Religion - Lent, Holy Week, Easter
• Letter Uu (identification, sound, words, and writing)
• Sight word: she
• Math - collecting data, making a graph, reading a graph
• Number 25

Our school will be having a Science Night which will be opened to grades TK to 3.  It will be a great night for hands-on learning.  I hope to see you there!  For more information, please click on the link.  Here is the link for the flier.

TK will be working on a science project that will be displayed during Science Night.  I ask all students to bring in an empty 1 dozen egg crate that looks similar to this:

Please put your child's name on the bottom. 

This week is Holy Week, we have been talking about how we can prepare for Easter.   Since Lent is a time to repent, please talk with your children about saying sorry and forgiving people when they make mistakes.

We will not be having Share this week since it's a short and busy week.  However, if your child has a "U" item to share, you are welcome to have your child bring it tomorrow or Thursday.

Have a good rest of the week,

Mrs. Paragas

Week 27

Dear TK Families and Friends,

This week TK will be learning the following:

• The Season of Lent
• Alike and Different/Graphing
• Sign Language for What is your name?;  My name is...; old; new; alike; different
• St. Patrick's Day
• Colors of the Rainbow
• Letter Tt - write, sound, and identify words that begin with  Tt
• Number 24 - write, count, and identify
• Clouds and Rainbows

Last week I introduced the Glory Be.  Please help your child with this prayer by reciting it regularly. 

Glory be to the Father,

and to the Son, 

and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning,

is now and ever shall be

world without end.

Amen.

Last week I sent home a uniform reminder.  This went home will all the children as a reminder to you of the uniform policy.  The uniform concerns are mostly related to the following:

• Nail polish - nail polish is not allowed.
• Hair accessories must be in the following colors:  red, white or navy blue only
  (no plastic headbands – cloth only).
• Jewelry - Wrist watches may be worn. Girls only may wear one pair of stud earrings. Standard medical or ID bracelets are acceptable. Necklaces or chains are not allowed because they create a safety hazard. However, we respect religious traditions of wearing a scapular, cross, or religious medal.  If these are worn, they must be simple chains and crosses/medals (not ropes or nuggets), and must be kept inside the shirt or blouse or they will be confiscated and returned at the end of the day.
• Socks and leggings -  Traditional tennis shoes only, solid white, black, red, or navy blue with matching laces or velcro closure.
  SOCKS: Red, white, or navy blue crew socks or knee socks are to be worn. Girls may wear red, white, or navy blue tights on cold days. Socks must cover the ankle and be VISIBLE at all times.
• Undershirt - White T-shirt/turtleneck under the uniform shirt/blouse for cold weather at parental discretion
• Gr TK-8: St. I’s red T-shirt or Eagle T-shirt may be worn on Fridays and other days designated by administration.

Please review the uniform policy in the Parent/Student Handbook that can be found under the "TK Families" link or visit the school's website to download the handbook.  If you need more clarification, please come see me.

I know the school year is two-thirds over and we start to relax a bit.  I just wanted to remind you that TK class begins at 7:55am.  I know life happens and we do run late, but let's try not to make it a habit.  The children begin the morning with a morning review at the table.  If you are running late, the assignment will be sent home at the end of the week for your child to do at his or her leisure.

Please remind your children that playing with imaginary weapons are not allowed at school because that is not how Jesus wants us to treat each other even if it's for pretend.  Thank you for your support on this matter.

On Wednesday, SLAs will go home with your child.  If you have questions regarding your child's performance, please set up a conference and we can go over your questions or concerns.  This past trimester, Mrs. Collins sent home progress reports to all the students in TK.  During the third trimester, only students that have areas to improve on will receive a progress report.  If your child does not receive a progress report, that means they are meeting TK expectations.  I will remind you of this as soon as progress reports will be handed out.

Tomorrow, HOPE bags will be going home.  Just a reminder, please return the bags even if you do not have any food donations.  Thank you!

Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day kind of week!

Mrs. Paragas

Week 26

Dear TK Family and Friends,

Thank you so much for the warm welcome back.  It has made coming back a little easier.  Being a new mom has taught me even more things about being a teacher.  I look at your children a little differently - I now teach and see them through a mother's heart.

This week we are learning the following:

• Religion - We are continuing the season of Lent
• The letter Ss - sound, letter, and words
• The word "go" and "of"
• We are reading "Bears Can Go" 
• This week we are on the number 23
• We are finishing up the unit on Measurement
• Science - Clouds, Rain, and Weather

Book Order

I will send home a book order form tomorrow.  I'm only keeping the window to order very small so that the books will arrive before Easter Break.  Orders are due Friday, March 11.  If you miss this month, I will send out the April catalog as soon as I receive them.

If you would like to order books from Scholastic Books, use the code GZX8B as the class code.

Here is the link to the Scholastic Book Website or type this in http://www.scholastic.com/parents/

On the top right corner, you will see "Sign In" or "Register".  If you already have an account made, select "Sign in", otherwise, please select "Register".

TK Parent Volunteers

If you would like to volunteer in our classroom, I will put out a calendar sign up sheet.  I ask that only one parent volunteer per day.  All volunteers must Safe-Environment trained and fingerprinted.  

Have a great week!

Mrs. Paragas

Words of gratitude

Dear TK parents & family,

There are no words to express the amount of appreciation I have for each and every one of you. My cup runneth over! Thank you for all the tokens of gratitude. My succulent garden already has a prominent place in my home. I will see it daily and smile, thinking of you.
I am not sure how long my email here will remain activated so here is my personal one: doriecollins@gmail.com. You are welcome to contact me anytime.
You will continue to be in my prayers and I ask you to do the same for me as I return to my job as wife, mother, and grandmother. As some of you know, I have a lot of work to do with my son's wedding next month.

In God's grace,
Mrs. Dorie Collins